Interferon action: effect on the formation of poxvirus specific polysomes and viral RNA.

Treatment of chick embryo fibroblast cells or mouse L-cells with homologous interferon resulted in a reduced formation of poxvirus specific polysomes and of viral RNA. In chick cells infected with cowpox virus the reduced formation of viral polysomes and virus-specific RNA after pre­ treatment of cells with interferon was observed at all timepoints studied (1 — 6 hours p. i.). Ex­ posure of cells to poly I : poly C caused a similar effect. In mouse L-cells infected with vaccinia WR virus pretreatment with interferon did not result in a reduced formation of viral polysomes or virus-specific RNA up to 1 hour p. i. At about 45 min even a slight increase of the formation of viral polysomes and RNA was observed. At later stages of infection (2 —4 hours p. i.) a reduced synthesis of viral polysomes and RNA was seen, system.